Turnaround times
The quoted turnaround time is from sample receipt in the laboratory, to results authorisation in the Laboratory Information Management system. The times do not include transport of specimen to the laboratory or the administrative process to print and post/email reports. Service users must allow for transport and reporting time when ordering tests.
Clinical background:
Investigation of suspected protein losing enteropathy (PLE). In protein losing enteropathy, serum proteins are lost into the gut. One way to assess this is to measure the concentration of alpha-1 antitrypsin in stool samples. Alpha-1 antitrypsin is a protease inhibitor, making it resistant to degradation by proteases in the stool sample.
Specimen container paediatric:
Faeces sample
Specimen container adult:
Faeces sample
Minimum volume paediatric:
10g faeces
Minimum volume adult:
10g faeces
Special requirements:
Ward: send to the laboratory within 1 hour of sample collection
External laboratories: send frozen to the laboratory
Transport requirements:
Must be transported on dry ice
Availability:
Sample sent to an external laboratory for analysis
Reference ranges:
0.00 – 0.48 mg/gww (grams wet weight of faeces)